MADRID (AP) — Real Madrid needed the help of VAR to avoid an embarrassing comeback in Sunday’s home game against Spanish league-bottom Almeria – and it needed a lot of help.
Madrid received three positive video reviews in the second half and scored the winning goal nine minutes into stoppage time to beat Almeria, the only team without a win in the league this season, 3-2.
The dramatic late victory moved Madrid within two points of Girona, who host relegation-threatened Sevilla later on Sunday.
Barcelona could move back into third place when they face Real Betis later on Sunday.
Dani Carvajal scored Madrid’s winner from close range after crossing into the area, sending the crowd at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium into a frenzy and sending Almeria’s players into despair.
The goal came after Madrid, who had led 2-0 in the first half, were allowed to continue after three VAR decisions. Madrid were awarded a penalty, making it 2-1, and Almeria’s goal that would have made it 3-1 was canceled out, and although the goal was initially disallowed by the referee, they equalized at 2-2.
“We played a good game, but someone decided that we can’t win here,” insisted Almeria defender Marc Poubil.
Almeria coach Gaizka Garitano, who was sent off in the final minute for a complaint, said it was not the first time something like this had happened to him at the Bernabéu.
“What can I say? … There are no words to summarize what happened here,” he said.
Madrid suffered a come-from-behind defeat to Atletico Madrid in the round of 16 of the Copa del Rey on Thursday, losing in extra time.
It was the fifth consecutive game in which Madrid conceded at least one goal. In the team’s last four matches in all competitions, opponents have scored 10 goals against Madrid.
Larzi Ramazani scored from inside the area in the first minute, and in the 43rd minute Edgar González curled a long-range shot into the top corner, giving Almeria an astonishing two-goal lead heading into half-time. Both goals resulted from mistakes by Madrid defender Nacho Fernandes.
As Madrid had zero shots on target in the first half, manager Carlo Ancelotti made three players at half-time: Brahim Díaz for Nacho, Fran Garcia for Ferland Mendy, and Josel for Rodrygo. did.
Madrid improved and Bellingham pulled Madrid closer with a penalty in the 57th minute after VAR and the referee ruled it was a handball by an Almeria defender. Bellingham calmly slotted a shot into the center of the goal, scoring his 14th league goal in his first season at Madrid.
Almeria appeared to have regained a two-goal lead with Sergio Arribas’ goal in the 61st minute, but a video review showed that Almeria’s Dion Lopy committed a foul against Bellingham in the build-up.
In the 67th minute, Vinicius Junior’s goal was ruled out by the referee for handball, but VAR informed the referee again that the Brazilian forward had scored with his shoulder.
Almeria also lodged a complaint after the referee awarded 11 minutes of stoppage time. In the end, the match ended with 13 minutes of added time.
Visitors will be able to expect more information when the VAR audio is released after the match.
Almeria, who have not won in 21 games, held second-placed Girona to a 0-0 draw at home in the previous round. The Saudi-owned club also performed well in a 3-2 loss to Barcelona and a 2-1 loss to Atletico Madrid.
Osasuna’s victory
Osasuna lost a two-goal lead in the first half, but Jesús Areso scored the winning goal in the 80th minute to give Getafe a 3-2 victory.
Osasuna have moved up to 11th place, one point behind 10th place Getafe, who have not won a league match since December.
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